California Proposition 5, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot, seeks to eliminate the simultaneous successor election in state officer recalls, instead filling vacancies through subsequent special elections or appointments under existing rules, with the lieutenant governor assuming the governorship if needed. Trader sentiment remains closely balanced around rejection because proponents, including the League of Women Voters and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, emphasize reduced election costs and removal of low-plurality replacement outcomes, while opponents such as Reform California argue the change diminishes direct voter input on successors and shields incumbents. Limited public polling and the measure’s origins in the 2021 recall experience sustain this competitive dynamic, with any shift likely hinging on organized campaign spending or late endorsements before election day.